Revenue - Disaggregation of Net Sales by Segment and Division (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 26, 2019	Jul. 27, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 7,493	$ 7,384
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,790	2,811
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,382	1,426
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Coronary & Structural Heart
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	941	917
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Aortic, Peripheral, & Venous
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	467	468
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,100	2,052
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Surgical Innovations
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	1,417	1,397
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, & Renal
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	683	655
Restorative Therapies Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	2,012	1,949
Restorative Therapies Group | Brain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	740	674
Restorative Therapies Group | Spine
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	658	652
Restorative Therapies Group | Specialty Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	322	309
Restorative Therapies Group | Pain Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	292	314
Diabetes Group
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 592	$ 572